Whitney's Women - Wendy Wilkins Of Dress For Success

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Now is the time for giving thanks and looking ahead to the new year. Meet Wendy Wilkins Director, Worldwide Central of Dress for Success Worldwide, who is keeping things “merry and bright” this holiday season for women across Chicagoland.

Tell us your favorite part of Dress for Success?

I have two favorites; my first is seeing the look on our client’s faces when she sees herself in one of our outfits or achieves one of her goals and my second is Dress for Success gives me so many opportunities to meet so many amazing people who want to lean in and help us to achieve our mission.

Why women?

Of the 1.3 billion people worldwide living in extreme poverty, 70 percent of them are women and girls. One in three women will be beaten or sexually abused during their lifetime. I’m a woman trying to make a difference in another woman’s life.

"A world in which women do not live in poverty, are financially independent, are treated with dignity and respect and are directly impacting their lives and those of their families."

— Wendy Wilkins on her vision for 2018

Dress for Success is more than just dressing people. Can you tell us about the job training?

Under the leadership of CEO Joi Gordon, Dress for Success Worldwide now provides a full continuum of services, suiting a woman from the inside out and uniquely positioning our organization as a global leaderin women’s employment issues. We offer our suiting program, capacity building, workforce development, employment retention & career development.

Is there a need for winter clothes?

We like to be able to provide our women with what they need for their jobs. The winter weather here in Chicago can be brutal! So we’re in need of winter coats, boots, scarves, sweaters, gloves and tights.

Where do you find motivation?

The women motivate me and my belief in a higher power. I believe it’s my life purpose to have this career and help other women. Women have helped me throughout my career from my very first job and still do today.

What is your favorite holiday meal?

My favorite holiday meal is Thanksgiving dinner. It’s truly a labor of love with my family members; we’re planning the menu, shopping and cooking the night before. I have a large family so we have the cooks, we have the people who set up and then the people who clean up. Everyone knows their role and stays in their lane. Everyone looks forward to my Aunt Mary’s sweet potato pies and my sister’s mac and cheese!

For more interviews, watch The Whitney Reynolds Show on PBS, Mondays at 6:30 PM or visit whitneyreynolds.com